Characterization of VRC01, a potent and broadly neutralizing anti-HIV mAb, produced in transiently and stably transformed tobacco

The proposed clinical trial in Africa of VRC01, a potent broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) capable of neutralizing 91% of known HIV-1 isolates, raises concerns about testing a treatment which will be too expensive to be accessible by the most important target population, the poor in under-developed regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we report the expression of VRC01 in plants as an economic alternative to conventional mammalian-cell-based production platforms. The heavy and light chain genes of VRC01 were cloned onto a single vector, pTRAk.2, which was transformed into Nicotiana benthamiana or Nicotiana tabacum using transient and stable expression production systems respectively. VRC01 has been successfully expressed transiently in plants with expression level of approximately 80 mg antibody/kg; stable transgenic lines expressing up to 100 mg antibody/kg were also obtained. Plant-produced VRC01 from both systems showed a largely homogeneous N-glycosylation profile with a single dominant glycoform. The binding kinetics to gp120 IIIB (approximately 1 nM), neutralization of HIV-1 BaL or a panel of 10 VRC01-sensitive HIV-1 Env pseudoviruses of VRC01 produced in transient and stable plants were also consistent with VRC01 from HEK cells

Affective Ecologies of Illness: Medical Humanities, Environment, and Resistance in Boyer’s The Undying and Khakpour’s Sick

This paper examines the convergence of medical humanities, affect theory and ecocriticism in Anne Boyer’s The Undying (2019) and Porochista Khakpour’s Sick (2018). Both memoirs disrupt dominant biomedical and neoliberal health narratives by foregrounding the lived experience of illness within broader contexts of environmental toxicity, gendered care work, and structural inequality. Through the lens of affect theory, the study highlights how pain, fatigue, and vulnerability function as politically charged affective states that resist clinical objectification. An ecocritical perspective further reveals how each author portrays the body as a site inscribed by ecological and institutional violence. Boyer’s lyrical critique of breast cancer treatment and Khakpour’s intimate depiction of chronic Lyme disease underscore how illness emerges from entanglements with capitalist, patriarchal, and toxic systems. Situated within the medical humanities, these memoirs utilize experimental narrative forms and emotionally resonant language to reclaim agency, redefine care, and assert the ethical urgency of storytelling amid environmental and bodily precarity. &nbsp

Developing Hole Selective Layers and Implementing Large-size Organic Cations for Perovskite Solar Cells

212 p.Thesis Abstract Organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells(PSCs) have emerged as one of the best candidates in next generation photovoltaics since their introduction in 2009. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) has dramatically increased from 3.8% to 25.7% in a decade. However, due to their limited device stability, the path to commercialization has been hindered, despite excellent PCEs. The highest performing PSCs is composed of several layers such as electron transport layers, an n-type mesoporous TiO2 layer, a perovskite layer, a hole transporting layer and a metal electrode. The high PCE can be achieved by effectively extracting and collecting the photo generated holes and selectively reducing the charge recombination loss. The state-of-art Spiro-OMeTAD is themost commonly used hole transporting material in the literature,however, its high cost due to multistep synthesis process, complex purification and instability caused by adding of hygroscopic p-typedopants, hinders the large-scale industrialization of PSCs. Thus, thedevelopment of new designed HTMs is highly desired.Additionally, the dimensionality of the perovskite influences the performance and stability of the PSCs. The reduction of dimensionality to produce lower-dimensional perovskites or analternative approach to implement an interfacial layer of the least amount of large organic cation to 3D perovskite surface to form bilayer or layered/3D mixed dimensional perovskites greatlyenhance the photovoltaic performance and stability of PSCs.Thus, the studies in this thesis aim to develop new hole-transporting materials that would be inexpensive and easily synthesizable andcan be effectively implemented for PSC applications. A series ofHTMs based on small molecules were designed and synthesized and investigated to understand the behaviour as a charge selective layerin PSCs, to further reduce the cost and improve the stability.Further more, the thesis discusses the work on the dimensionality of the perovskite and interface engineering of the perovskite absorber layer with large organic cations for improved performance and longterm stability purposes.Thus, the thesis aims to discuss the studies and investigations on themolecularly designed hole-transporting materials (HTMs) andemploy the large-size organic cation as an interface layer or dopingto form reduced mixed-dimensional perovskite absorber forenhancing the overall performance and long-term stability of thePSCs.Bcmaterials: Basque Center for Materials, applications & nanostructure

Role of Optical Coherence Tomography in the Evaluation and Management of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible, yet preventable, blindness throughout the world. Since it is a disease which can be treated but not cured, it is crucial for the treating ophthalmologist to catch the disease as early as possible. The diagnosis of glaucoma is currently based on the appearance of the optic disc and standard achromatic perimetry. However, to detect glaucoma in its early stages, there are various diagnostic modalities of which optical coherence tomography serves as a novel tool. Optical coherence tomography has emerged over the years with the ability to detect changes in the optic nerve head, retinal nerve fiber layer, and currently the ganglion cell layer much earlier than the defects manifest functionally. Thus, optical coherence tomography acts as an important diagnostic aid to diagnose and monitor the progression of this sight threatening disease called glaucoma

Socio-Economic Aspects and the Commercialization of Rural Mising People: Special Emphasis Related To Mising Community of Bishwanath District In Assam, India

The direction of commercialization is very relevant in building the economic foundation of a society. With the development of human civilization, the commercialization and market system has affected the rural areas. The abolition of the old-fashioned barter system has given rise to a new way of thinking and meeting the needs of the human mind. The issue of commercialization is more important than the economic aspects of a society and issues of livelihood as well as demand. If there is no need for human beings and there is no need to meet the need, then the idea of commercialization is also absurd. This research paper analyzes how the meetings in rural areas of Assam have commercialized the products for socio-economic upliftment and its impact on the four Mising villages of Bishwanath district as the main resource

Hemoperitoneum due to spontaneous rupture of venous plexus overlying a fibroid in pregnancy: a case report

Spontaneous venous rupture overlying a fibroid causing hemoperitoneum in pregnancy is uncommon but highly lethal. A 31-year-old woman, second gravida at 32 weeks of gestation, presented with pain abdomen. On examination, she had mild tachycardia and tachypnea; uterus size was 26 to 28 weeks. Ultrasound revealed intrauterine fetal demise and retro-placental clot without free fluid. Induction of labor was initiated, but the patient’s vitals deteriorated. Repeat ultrasound illustrated intra-abdominal free fluid. On emergency laparotomy, the hemoperitoneum was revealed. Stillborn fetus, placenta, and clots of 100 mg were delivered by cesarean section. On exploration, multiple subserous fibroids were seen, and profuse bleeding was noticed from the venous plexus overlying a fibroid in the posterior left lateral wall. The bleeder was held with Green Armitage and ligated. The patient was discharged in satisfactory condition on post-operative day 10. Immediate surgical intervention is the best modality to diagnose and control bleeding

Amino acid and fatty acid profile of five small Indigenous fish species (SIS) from Assam, India

Both proteins and fatty acids are significant macromolecules that control vital metabolic processes and act as building blocks for forming compounds crucial to biological processes. Fish are a significant source of high-quality protein and fatty acids in human nutrition. In this study, the amino acid fatty acid profile of five sun-dried small Indigenous fish species (SIS), viz., Anabus testudineus, Barilius barila, Gudusia chapra, Nandus nandus and Puntius sophore. The amino acid profile was determined using standard analytical techniques, while the fatty acid composition was assessed according to the AOAC method by preparing fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).The total detected essential amino acid concentrations in A. testudineus, B. barila, G. chapra, N. nandus, and P. sophore were 2788.23±5.74, 2939.86±7.6, 2750.44±12.93, 2534.41±4.77 and 1319.21±8.45µmol/L, and the concentrations of nonessential amino acids are 9141.48±6.18, 9493.55±9.58, 8523.89±13.1, 8261.06±9.96 and 4572.77±7.69 µmol/L. The study identified 23 fatty acids, with palmitic acid being the most abundant saturated fatty acid, followed by Myristic, Arachidic, Pentadecanoic, Margaric, Stearic, and Tridecanoic acids, with very low amounts of Behenic and Lignoceric acids. The present study has examined the amino acid compositions of significant dietary fish from various habitats (viz., River, beel, reservoirs, ponds and tanks, etc).  Therefore, these can be recommended as a healthy supplement to the human diet, an alternate source of protein, and another nutrient requirement.

Ethnobotany of religious and supernatural beliefs of the Mising tribes of Assam with special reference to the 'Dobur Uie'

Assam is very rich in plant biodiversity as well as in ethnic diversity and has a great traditional knowledge base in plant resources. It is inhabited by the largest number of tribes and they lead an intricate life totally dependent on forest plants. The Mising is the major section and second largest tribal community of Assam and have a rich tradition of religion and culture. Their religious practices and beliefs are based on supernaturalism. A study of the plants related to magico religious beliefs in Dobur Uie of Mising is carried out. The results revealed the use of 30 plants belonging to 23 families. All plant species are used both in religious purpose as well as in the treatment of different ailments. Details of the uses of plants and conservational practices employed in Dobur Uie are provided. Our findings on the use of plants in Dobur Uie ritual reflect that some plants are facing problems for survival and they need urgent conservation before their elimination. Because this elimination may threat the rich tradition of Mising culture. Most of the plants that are domesticated for different rituals are almost same in all Mising populated areas

Elderly primigravida and a comparative analysis of their pregnancy outcome with younger primigravida

Background: Though pregnancy and child birth is a normal physiological process but a woman with advanced age is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome. This study was conducted to find out the proportion of elderly primigravida and to compare their pregnancy outcome with that in younger primigravida of aged 20-25yrs.Methods: A retrospective study was carried out over a period of two years in a tertiary care hospital of Meghalaya. Secondary data on obstetrics outcome of 54 elderly primigravida aged ≥35 years (study group) was compared to 120 younger primigravida (control group) of aged 20-25 years, delivered during the period of study. The chi square test and Fisher’s exact test were used for statistical analysis and p value of <0.05 was taken as level of significance.Results: During two years of study period, 2048 patients had delivered, out of which 411 (20.1%) were primigravida, 54 (2.6%) were elderly primigravida, 120 (5.9%) were in the younger age groups and 66 (3.2%) were teenage pregnancy. Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) with preeclampsia 12 (22.2%), preterm labour 2 (3.7%), instrumental delivery 6 (11.1%), caesarean section 32 (59.3%) were found significantly higher in study group.Conclusions: In our study, the prevalence of elderly primigravida was 2.6% and they had high rates of complications during antenatal period and course of labour than younger primigravida